2017 Top Tens: Movies

The end of the year approaches! As has been the usual around LW this time of year, it’s time to look back at a few favorites—and today those are ten of my favorite movies of the year! (Not all are 2017 releases, but I watched them for the first time this year.)

10.) Hugo

This one has been on my Netflix suggestions forever but I finally decided to watch it a few weeks ago. I didn’t really know what to expect from it but found it to be a fun and whimsical story.

9.) Beauty and the Beast

It’s been a long time since I last watched the animated version, but I enjoyed this live-action adaptation. It definitely felt more like watching a play than watching a movie, but I think the style worked well for it!

8.) Trolls

So I didn’t expect to like this one as much as I did, but it was a fun, quirky, colorful movie that made me laugh.

7.) Thor: Ragnarok

While it had its flaws and things I disliked, there were some aspects I really liked and storylines that I’m eager to see the effects of in the rest of the MCU.

6.) Spider-man: Homecoming

I am so, so glad they didn’t do another origin story for this character. I like how this really focused on how Peter is trying to reconcile who he is as a superhero with who he is as a kid. It’s different than a lot of movies in the MCU, but it’s a good different.

5.) Dunkirk

This movie was so good. It’s another one of those that hooked me from the opening moments and didn’t let go. The cinematography and soundtrack are gorgeous, and the limited use of dialogue worked really well.

4.) Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

While there were certainly flaws and things I wish had been handled a little better or differently, this was such a fun adventure. In some ways, it reminded me of the spirit of the first movie.

3.) Kong: Skull Island

I really enjoyed this take on King Kong. It’s a bit more weird scifi than I expected but it totally works. The story really takes off from the moment the movie begins and doesn’t slow down.

2.) Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2

This is a series that keeps surprising me with how much I enjoy it. This sequel managed to keep the charm and fun of the first movie while still balancing some pretty dark moments and revelations.

1.) War for the Planet of the Apes

This was probably my most anticipated movie of the year and it certainly did not disappoint. I don’t talk about this series very much, but it’s one of my all-time favorites, in part because the stories are good but mostly because the characters are so vivid. Caesar is a stunning lead character, and that War brings his story full-circle in a Moses-type of story arc fits so well with his journey in the previous installments.

What were you favorite movies this year? Tell me about them in the comments (or if you’ve shared about them in a blog post, feel free to leave a link)!